Review: AA & BA Soho Lounge New York (JFK)

Question - you mentioned in the trip introduction that you had to switch your TATL flight to EWR because of an aircraft swap. How'd you get into these lounges without an outbound ticket from JFK?

@ Alex -- I did have an outbound ticket from JFK, because as of the day I was traveling, I was booked in F on British Airways from JFK to LHR. I got to the lounge at 4:30AM (so I could get pictures while it was quiet), and my flight hadn't even left London yet.

I noticed after it was airborne that it had been swapped to an older aircraft, so I looked at award availability, and saw something out of EWR. So I rebooked out of there instead for the same day. Indeed, I wouldn't have otherwise been able to use this lounge when departing EWR.

How odd to have the lowest (accessible?) urinal as the middle of the three?

It is somewhat odd to me, IMO, that despite this seeming big increase in lounge space at JFK that domestic American Airlines elites don't seemed to have benefited that much. For example - would it have been too much for AA Platinum and above, who are also traveling in business class (either domestic or international), get access to Soho lounge, while AA Platinum and above traveling in economy get access to the Greenwich lounge (as they had before)?

I'm an AA Platinum, but also a Delta Diamond. At Terminal 4 at JFK, I have access to the Centurion Lounge and the SkyClub, regardless of class of ticket (or status, frankly, given I am a cardholder). Soon, if I am flying Delta One, I will also have access to a Delta One lounge as well. As AA Platinum with a Business Class ticket, I only have access to the Greenwich lounge, if I understand it correctly.

All in all, AA isn't offering a dramatically better lounge experience in their Terminal from what I can tell, unless I can get into Soho or Chelsea. With first class largely going away, it seems harder to get into those lounges as a mid level AA elite.

Finally - the biggest improvement American Airlines could make in terms of the lounge experience for domestic American elites... is building a nice, premium lounge in Terminal 5. That's where they really need a lounge.

@Ben - I'm flying JL First. My flight is scheduled to depart at 1:30AM EST. Am I correct to assume that I'll be able to access this lounge that a few hours before I fly out even though it's technically the day before?

@ NG -- Absolutely!

Great review, and while the lounge does not appear to be more than marginally better than the Greenwich lounge, I suppose this one will be quieter. It must be one of the best lounges for OW pax in North America.

That's what I figured, but thought I'd double-check. Thank you!

Thanks for the review(S)Ben, I am looking forward to trying them out on my next trip. That wine station if it’s anything like the SFO lounge has glasses in a draw below and you select the wine you want and size (small/medium/large) by pressing 1 of the 3 little buttons.

The Soho Lounge JFK is open daily from 4:30AM until 11PM, covering virtually all departures from the terminal. If you’re departing on a oneworld flight, then the Greenwich Lounge should be open.

I think you mean Soho?

How is that the inferior lounge (Greenwich) has a better sparkling wine option (Piper Heidsieck) than Soho?

What used to be in the space that the Chelsea and Soho lounges are now in? I don't think there was a lounge here before, right?

The Greenwich Lounge is the former Flagship Lounge, which was always there. The Chelsea and Soho lounges are housed in an expanded part of T8 that was built to accommodate a few more gates and are atop those.

Thanks. I knew about the Greenwich/Flagship history, didn't realize that the T8 expansion included these new lounges too, thought it was just a few more jetbridges.

I am wondering the same

Are there more Campagne options at the bar ?

This isn't really a reasonable comparison.

First, you're comparing access for top tier elites on Delta to third tier elite on American. The fair comparison here would be Delta Diamond to American Executive Platinum, or Delta Gold to American Platinum. If you had equivalent status on American as on Delta, you'd have access to higher tier lounges.

Second, you mention the Centurion Lounge, but that's not a Delta lounge, and being a Delta elite or premium cabin passenger doesn't get you access. An AA passenger with the proper Amex card could get in there as well.

Finally, you also mention the Sky club, but fail to recognize that AA also has an Admirals Club in the terminal, which is accessible to anyone who has a membership, any authorized user of the Citi Executive card, and any passenger who has access to the Soho, Chelsea, and Greenwich lounges, without the ridiculous restrictions that Delta has added to sky club access.

They don't serve avocado toast and you still gave it a 5-star review? HUH?? 🙂

I was there some 3 weeks ago and they were serving Nicolas Feuillatte Brut at the bar. It wasn't advertised on the QR code menu, you had to go there and ask.

Was here last weekend. Space is nice but the shower suites’ rain showers weren’t working. One shower suite was also out of order. I was hopeful AA would’ve upgraded the experience from the FL where there was literally zero water pressure.

My experience:

LOVE the SoHo lounge. It's gorgeous, awesome views, and food selection is better than I've seen at any other BA/AA lounge in the world (and I've experienced many of them; and hugely better tasing than even Qatar, for that matter). The AA service staff is superb; went chasing to get me their better champagne from the Chelsea Lounge, even though I made no request and wasn't even thinking about it. Overall, AA staff seems super proud and enjoy showcasing all they offer at the SoHo lounge...they were like peacocks wanting to show off the beautiful plumage of the Soho lounge.

Now for practical stuff. It's for Emerald when traveling or connecting to/from an international flight regardless of class of service.

If Emerald, even on domestic transcontinental in Biz (don't know about First), you are shuffled to the Greenwich Lounge, FAR inferior to the SoHo. However, there are 2 sections. The main section to the left is a madhouse, to the point of unpleasant. The niche section to the right is super quiet...and though you have to go to the other section to get nibbles or even use the bathroom, it at least does have fully attended bar (not that I could use it recently due to a madly bad stomach).

Enjoy the SoHo!

Was in Chelsea last week and was disappointed- its pretty but compared to old Flagship First lounge there were far fewer food options out (I didn't see if one could order). No sushi (I was told Greenwich still has sushi), no ginger beer, no pretzel rolls, and the veggie option was mushroom strogonoff -blech!. Bland British food for BA customers?

But isn't JL flying from a different terminal, at least for now?

Judging from departure time, it would be JL003, which will be resumed on May 28, the day JAL moves to T8 in JFK.

no champagne either! at least w flagship that was there. to give emerald members no real champagne is crazy.

curious about the champs getting switched. Did you just ask for real champagne? Shocked they dont have real champagne in the Soho lounge.

quality wise piper is much better than feuillatte.

Wild tho.

The Galleries First lounge in London has an excellent champagne selection with 4 champagnes that retail for well over 70 bucks a bottle. This is pretty disgraceful to see such cheap italian fizz.

I had long layover yday in Jfk and chance use Soho lounge at 4:30 morning at opening and later at evening prior my flight to London, agreed at all about your experience, lounge layout very nice and brand new with open windows, buffet not that extensive but food of very good quality, relax room a kind weird bcs although offer some good beds for a nap, no blankets offer and also no chance to switch off light so need eyeshade for try sleep.
Toilet fair but sinks not most practical as mentioned, shower room big enough but in mine missing the controller for rain shower and surprisingly no any wall hangers for dress and only chance lying them close sink that not most useful.

Were the bagels fresh? They looked good but other than the occasional pretzel bread, they are usually as hard as hockey

They do serve champagne but it is not listed on the menu. Last time I was there (mid-february) they served Nicolas Feuilatte Grand Reserve Grand Cru.

I agree that the personell is incredibly friendly and professional. The processes and staffing are not well thought out though: for me multiple orders got lost or mixed up, when the lounge was busy (i.e. in the evening).

Thanks for the nice review 🙂

Hi RJI, I actually asked what they had for sparkling, and then they brought the champagne from the Chelsea Lounge. I think they do have champagne in the SoHo, they just wanted to serve the better from the Chelsea...they seemed to have fun trying to be over-the-top with service.

I have found a few Lounges only offering champagne upon request or at the very least, not proactively offering the premium bubbles ..... so maybe it is becoming a 'thing'.

I agree, having no actual Champagne in the Soho lounge seems extremely odd, especially if the Greenwich lounge does carry Champagne. The selection of red wine also seems to be underwhelming, the Bordeaux is a basic Bordeaux Superieur that retails at $20 (and AA certainly pays much less obviously), a Medoc or St Emilion would have been more suitable for this tier. But AA has never been known for offering premium drinks...and this is not an Air France lounge after all. The general décor and setting seem nice, though.

I'm flying to Tokyo on JAL in June and my flight leaves very late at 1:30am. Being Emerald, I'm hoping the Soho lounge will extend their closing time beyond 11pm (or at least one of the three lounges), I can't imagine Business and First Class passenger on JAL waiting at the gate for 2 hours!

I write this in the SoHo lounge, where I am staying today from 1 pm until 11 pm (having the AY flight to HEL at 11.45 pm). Long layover from South America.

The lounge is grea. In the early afternoon it was almost empty, now at 5 pm quite busy.

If they should improve something, it is the showers. There should be a seat outside the shower and you should have a place to hang your clothes (now you have to sit on toilet seat when putting your shoes on and this seat flushes automaticly every time you get up). This might be only a problem to people of my age (65+), but still.

The qr-code food order system did not work all the time, but then the staff took care of the order.

The bar personnell is very professional and so far I have got all the cocktails I have ordered. Maybe they should have a better single malt whisky collection, but I understand that this in also an ecenomical question. At least they have some single malts.

Unfortunately, though oneworld, JAL operates from Terminal 1, not the AA facility (Terminasl 8). I have no idea what their lounge is like in T1. Safe travels.

Wait how did you access these lounges, or even get through security? Didn't you end up flying out of EWR, did you change your ticket after you checked in and went through security?

Any idea which lounges Japan Airlines First passengers will get access to?

JAL is switching to T8 in June

I'm just confused, so please forgive this question. I'm on JFK-LAX transcon business. I'm also Alaska MVP 100K. Do I have access to the SoHo lounge?

I have not visited either lounge, but from the reviews the Greenwich lounge looks nicer from a food & beverage perspective - seemingly greater selection of food and more variety of beer in the pub and higher end champaign. Plus I like that the beverages are self-serve at Greenwich. Maybe the play for those who have access to both is to eat / drink first at Greenwich and then relax in the nicer environment at Soho? Thanks for both reviews and all the pictures.

Had the pleasure to enter and take a guest on a recent internal from JFK to CLT. I would say it's head and shoudlers above any other AA lounge I have been in. Really enjoyed the ambiance, surroundings and selections.

There is perhaps a good point re self seve v bar service.

Can I access the lounge if I'm on standby? With foreign OW Emerald.

No, You don't... as it's a domestic flight

I've had the bagels for very early morning flights. They were fresh, but disappointing -- n no way up to New York bagel standards.